Franz Boas
The Mind of Primitive Man is a comprehensive study of the psychology and culture of pre-modern societies, written by Franz Boas. Boas was a renowned anthropologist and one of the pioneers of modern anthropology in the United States. In this book, he explores the mental and social life of primitive peoples, drawing on his extensive fieldwork among the indigenous peoples of North America, the Pacific Islands, and the Arctic.The book is divided into three main sections. The first section provides an overview of Boas’ theoretical framework, which emphasizes the importance of cultural context in shaping human behavior and thought. He argues that the mind of primitive man is fundamentally different from that of modern man, and that these differences are largely the result of cultural and environmental factors.The second section of the book focuses on specific aspects of primitive culture, including religion, language, and social organization. Boas examines the ways in which these cultural practices reflect and shape the mental life of primitive peoples, and how they differ from the practices of modern societies.The final section of the book is devoted to a detailed analysis of the mental life of the Eskimo people. Boas draws on his extensive fieldwork among the Eskimo to provide a detailed account of their beliefs, values, and social practices. He also explores the ways in which their mental life is shaped by their harsh environment and the demands of their subsistence lifestyle.Overall, The Mind of Primitive Man is a groundbreaking work that helped to establish anthropology as a serious academic discipline. It remains a classic in the field, and is still widely read and cited by scholars today.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
